ALUMINUM AIR BATTERY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROPULSION

The status of aluminum-air battery development and the use of aluminum as a recyclable electrochemical fuel are discussed. The battery combines high specific energy (above 300 Wh/kg) and specific power (150 to 200 W/kg) with the capability of rapid refueling by addition of reactants. The objective is a commercially-feasible, general-purpose electric vehicle. Progress is reported in the scale-up of aluminum-air single cells to the automotive scale (0.1 m exp 2 -anodes) and in the development of a hydrargillite crystallizer, which is required to control electrolyte composition. Major technical problems and development strategy are discussed. The total cost and energy required to produce aluminum, and projected consumption by electric vehicles indicates that the aluminum-air powered electric vehicle is potentially competitive with advanced automobiles using synthetic liquid fuels. (ERA citation 05:029276)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 15th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Seattle, WA, 18 August 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Livermore

  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  Livermore, CA  United States  94550

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • COOPER, J F
  • Homsy, R V
  • Landrum, J H
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum air batteries; Design; Economics; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Electrochemistry; Electrolytes; Energy consumption; Fuel consumption; Operating costs; Performance; Propulsion; Recycling; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Propulsion systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Strategy
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00327011
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CONF-800806-19
• Contract Numbers: W-7405-ENG-48
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 18 1981 12:00AM